A pilot in Austin, TX, seeks to consolidate and safely store the identity documents, medical records and other forms that prove the identity of people who live on the street. The pilot, backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies, could make it easier for homeless people to find jobs and receive medical care.

A pilot program in three Chinese cities enables citizens to put digital versions of the country’s national ID card on a popular smartphone payment app operated by e-commerce giant Alibaba. The move follows a similar program that involves a Chinese social media platform.

A new lab in Virginia seeks to improve the ability of the Army to use biometrics for authentication and security, including in combat zones. A main goal of the program is to reduce the relatively bulky nature of current military biometric systems.

Biometric technology is taking another step forward in the auto industry with the introduction of a system meant to reduce accidents that stem from distracted driving. The Subaru launch comes as other carmakers seek to use biometrics not only for safety, but ID and driver convenience.

Govpass, supervised by the federal Digital Transformation Agency, would enable users to access government and even private services without having to show up and wait in physical offices. Testing of the program scheduled to widen in the coming months.

Taipei’s smart city initiative, which also includes citizens’ digital IDs, will rely on Tangle, a distributed ledger technology that is distinct from blockchain. The push represents the latest melding of digital ID and distributed ledgers, which have already found fans in other markets.